What is the standard format for college writing?

Hey, so I'm honestly pretty stressed about college. One thing I've been worrying about is academic writing—I'm not sure what the expectations are. What's the most common format used in college papers, and what should I start familiarizing myself with?

In college, you'll encounter a variety of writing assignments, from essays to research papers, reviews, and other submissions. However, one standard format you will widely use in many college courses, especially in the liberal arts and social sciences, is known as MLA style (Modern Language Association).

MLA style covers everything from the way you cite your sources, to the layout of your paper, and even to small details such as margins, font size, and how to handle punctuation in quotations.

Key elements of MLA style include:

1. Header and Page Numbers: In the upper right corner, you would include your last name followed by the page number. An example would be "Smith 1".

2. Title and Identification Information: In the beginning, you include your name, the professor's name, the course name, and the due date. This information is double-spaced and left-aligned, and the title of your assignment will be centered on the next line.

3. Citations: MLA style uses parenthetical citations within the text. This means that after a quote or a paraphrase, you include the author's last name and the page number in parentheses. An example would look like: "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past" (Fitzgerald 189).

4. Works Cited: This is a page at the end of your paper where you list all of your sources in alphabetical order. The layout of these citations can vary depending on the source type.

Always double-spaced, with one-inch margins all around, and in 12-point Times New Roman or Arial, MLA format is quite specific.

While discussing academic writing styles, APA (American Psychological Association) style is another common citation and writing style used in the social sciences, education, and business courses, so it's good to familiarize yourself with that as well.

I'd suggest looking for credible online guides or resources on MLA formatting and citation rules and guidelines. Additionally, spending some time with your college's writing center or reaching out to your professor for guidance can also be beneficial.